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Batik Panel circa 1940s , kain panjang made in Kudus, Central Java. The name of the batik maker is in the top corner increasingly rare to find of batiks of this time. Diagonal partitioning into two halves - one side to be worn during the day, the other side worn at night (Pagi Soir - Day Night).The main characteristics of batiks made in Kudus are the use of dot motifs (symbolising rice grains), clove flowers, and colours of terracotta, purple, green, blue, brown.Cotton. Hand drawn and wax-resistant dyeing. Size: 106 cm x 246cmCondition Report: The process of drawing and dying can take up to a year.5 small repaired areas largest of which is 5.5x 3cm which does not detract from the overall appearance

AVIATION - Menu commemorating the first flight from London to Brighton.AVIATION - First Flight London to Brighton. Dinner to [sic]O. C. Morison Esqr. Ascended Brooklands 3.50pm. Descended Brighton Beach4.55pm. Feb. 15th 1911. Royal York Hotel. Brighton. Feb 20th1911. Alderman Edward Geere, Deputy Mayor, in the Chair. [?Brighton: no printer],1911. Single card, folded to form bifolium (216 x 178mm). Printed menu andtoast list, with pictorial cover (some staining at edges). SIGNED IN PENCIL ONTHE COVER BY O. C. MORISON AND HARRY PRESTON, and a third unknown signatory,possibly James [?]Plante. EXCEPTIONALLY RARE. This menu commemorates a landmarkin British aviation. Since Bleriot first flew across the English Channel in1909, the south east of England, and the Brighton and Shoreham areas inparticular, had been centres for the feats of pioneering aviators. The dinnerrecorded in the menu, hosted by local businessman and keen supporter ofaviation Harry Preston, commemorates the first flight from London to Brightonwhich was made by Oscar Morison in his Bleriot XI monoplane. Flying fromBrooklands Aerodrome, near Weybridge, he crash-landed on Brighton beach at“Banjo Groyne” but was unharmed and attended the dinner given in his honourjust five days later. The broken propellor from the flight has recently found anew home in Brighton Museum.

BINDING - Bible, in Dutch, in a rare 'Ladies' Girdle Binding'.BINDING - Biblia. Dat is De grantsche H. Schrifture. Amsterdam: N. Burgers, P. van Ryschouten, A. Hafebroek, I. Appelaar, [n.d. but after 1681 (the date of "Acte van Consent" on verso of title)]. Small 8vo (140 x 80mm). Title within engraved architectural and armorial border, printed largely in double column, psalms with musical notation (some light browning). Contemporary tortoiseshell over vellum with silver fitments and clasps engraved with foliate motifs, metal chain attached to upper edges of covers, gilt edges (small chip to lower edge of upper cover). Provenance: "M.V.L." (initials engraved on the inside of the upper clasp). A rare example of a 'Ladies' Girdle Binding' complete with chain.

[CHORIER, Nicolas (1612-92)]. Aloisiæ Sigæae toletanæ satyra sotadica de arcanis amoris & veneris.[CHORIER, Nicolas (1612-92)]. Aloisiæ Sigæaetoletanæ satyra sotadica de arcanis amoris et veneris. Editio nova, emendatior et auctior. Accessit colloquium ante hac non editum, Fescennini ex M.S.recens reperto. Amsterdam [?but Geneva]: [no publisher], 1678. 3 partsbound in one volume, 12mo (139 x 82mm). (Old signature excised from corner oftitle, hole in E7 with loss of letters, corner of A5 in third part torn away,variable but mostly light spotting, staining and browning, a few darker spots.)Contemporary calf (rubbed and scuffed, joints split). Provenance: laterannotation on front free endpaper; some later pencil highlighting and sparseannotation; modern typed note tipped-onto rear pastedown exonerating “theguiltless Aloisia” from any involvement in this scandalous work; from the Library of the late Sir George Engle. The first completeedition of "the mostoutspoken erotic work of the 17th-century" (Kearney, AHistory of Erotic Literature, pp. 34-46), written in the form of a series of dialogues between Tullia,a twenty-six-year-old Italian woman, who is charged with the sexual initiationof her young cousin, Ottavia. Though the text claims to be a Latin translation by Johannes Meursius ofa Spanish work by the 16th-century poet Aloisa Sigea de Velasco, the trueauthor, Nicolas Chorier, was a French lawyer and historian. The first edition,which included the first 6 dialogues only, was published c. 1660; this is thefirst complete edition which includes a seventh and final dialogue. Brunet VII, 1021: "Éditiontout aussi rare que les précédentes.”  

Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal. [etc.]Colburn's United Service Magazine and Naval and Military Journal. London: H. Hurst, [1846]. Parts I - III for 1846 in 3 volumes, 8vo (213 x 130mm). (Occasional light spotting and staining.) Attractively bound in contemporary half calf, spines gilt with burgundy morocco lettering-pieces (lightly rubbed). With 4 other books, namely Thomas Babington Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome (London, 1849, attractively bound in contemporary burgundy morocco gilt), Frederick Courteney Selous's Sunshine and Storm in Rhodesia (London, 1896, original buckram, FIRST EDITION), Charles Kingsley's The Water-Babies (London, 1898, reprint, attractively bound in contemporary red half calf gilt) and Frank Finn's The Water Fowl of India and Asia ... Third edition (Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and Co., 1921, original pictorial cloth, RARE). (7)

DICKENS, Charles (1812-70) & Frederick Fox COOPER (1806-79). Little Dorrit. A Domestic Drama, in Three Acts. [etc.]DICKENS, Charles (1812-70) and Frederick Fox COOPER (1806-79). Little Dorrit. A Domestic Drama, in Three Acts. Founded upon the Popular Novel, by Charles Dickens. As Performed at the London Theatres. London: Purkess’s Library of Romance, [c. 1857]. 4to (208 x 163mm). Single sheet folded to form 8-pages, hand-coloured wood-engraved illustrations. A later typed note states (perhaps with some hyperbole): “Excessively rare. Only one other copy has been noted, that being the one sold in the rooms of the American Art Association, New York, on December 7, 1927, when it brought $100.00 (£20.) It formed part of the collection of the Works of Charles Dickens, the property of Thomas Hatton, Leicester, England.” With Dombey and Son; or, Good Mrs Brown, the Child Stealer. A Drama, in Two Acts ([London, G. Purkess, [n.d.], hand-coloured illustrations, FOUR COPIES) and [Walter Scott’s] Kenilworth. An Historical Drama, in Two Acts. As Performed at Drury Lane Theatre ([London, G. Purkess, [n.d.], hand-coloured illustrations, THREE COPIES); with a quantity of ephemeral items including G. M’Gregor’s Narrative of the Melancholy Wreck of the Sea Horse, Transport, in Tramore Bay, on the 30th January, 1816. 363 Persons Drowned! (Waterford, 1867, pamphlet, RARE), Father Christmas. The Children’s Annual 1884 (London, 1884, illustrations by George Cruikshank, wrappers), and some unbound hand-coloured lithographed architectural views. Please note that only a part of this lot is illustrated. The lot sold not subject to return. (qty)

La Malice des Hommes découverte dans la Justification des Femmes; par Mademoiselle J***. [etc.]LaMalice des Hommes découverte dans la Justification des Femmes; par MademoiselleJ***.Bar-Sur-Seine: chez Malvost, [n.d. but late 18th/early 19th-century]. 12mo (140x 86mm). 24-pages, woodcut decorations (title and first few leaves lightlybrowned and spotted). Stapled into modern wrappers. RARE. The author is unknown. With 4 otherephemeral items including Lettre Authographie de Son Altesse Sérénissime,Maitre Grison, Prince des Allibons, du Village d' Orcq, près de Tournay, a sonAltesse Sérénissime, Maitre Roussin, Prince des Bourbiques, de village deScharbecke, près de Bruxelles ([N.p., 1830], 16-pages, wrappers) and afragment of a biblical history with fine engravings. The lot sold not subject to return. (5) 

L' Amour, et le Papillon. Almanach.L'Amour, et le Papillon. Almanach Chantant pour la Présente Année. Paris: AuPalais-Royal et chez les Marchands des Nouveautés, [n.d. but c. 1820]. 12mo(100 x 70mm). Hand-coloured frontispiece, title with rule borders andillustration of a butterfly, text in rule borders, illustrations. Old Dutchgilt or brocade wrappers. RARE.

MISCELLANY, 19th CENTURY - J. J. GRANDVILLE (1803-47, [pseudonym of Jean Ignace Isidore GÉRARD]). Les Fleurs Animées. [etc.]MISCELLANY, 19th CENTURY - J.J. GRANDVILLE (1803-47, [pseudonym of Jean Ignace Isidore GÉRARD]).  LesFleurs Animées … Nouvelle Édition. Paris: Garnier Frères, [?1867]. 2volumes, 4to (267 x 185mm). 2 hand-coloured frontispieces and 50 hand-colouredwood-engraved plates by Grandville, 2 uncoloured plates, vignettes (somespotting and staining). Contemporary pebbled red cloth, original wrappers boundin. With 15 other miscellaneous 19th-century works in 17 volumes,namely John Bull … Vol. III. From January 5, 1823, to December 28, 1823(London, 1823, issues 108-159 bound in one vol., contemporary half roan,crudely rebacked), John Locke’s An Essay concerning Human Understanding …Twenty Fifth Edition (London, 1824, attractively bound in contemporaryblack half calf gilt), [William Makepeace Thackeray’s] Mrs Perkins’s Ball([London, 1847], tinted plates, contemporary half calf), A. Soyer’s TheGastronomic Regenerator: a Simplified and Entirely New System of Cookery …Fourth Edition (London, 1847, plates, original cloth), The IllustratedExhibitor, a Tribute to the World’s Industrial Jubilee; comprising Sketches, byPen and Pencil, of the Principal Objects in the Great Exhibition of theIndustry of all Nations, 1851 (London, [1851], 10 folding plates,contemporary half calf), Oliver Goldsmith’s The Poems (London, 1859, text within gilt-ruled border throughout, illustrations printed in colours, contemporary elaborate decorated morocco),John Beckmann’s A History of Inventions, Discoveries and Origins …Translated from the German, by William Johnston (London, Bohn’s StandardLibrary, 1846, 2 vols., original cloth decorated in blind), J. J. Grandville’s ViePrivée et Publique des Animaux (Paris, 1867, contemporary red morocco gilt,joints splitting, rubbed), Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Christophe’s Répertoirede la Comédie Humaine de H. de Balzac (Paris, 1887, contemporary halfmorocco), Guillemette Desgranges’s La Famille le Jarriel (Paris, 1889,fine original pictorial cloth gilt), Rudyard Kipling’s Under the Deodars(Allahabad, 1890, third edition, original pictorial wrappers, torn with severeloss and laid down, RARE), Lord de Tabley’s Poems Dramatic and Lyrical(London, 1893, illustrations by C. S. Ricketts, original decorated clothdesigned by Ricketts), Mary Russell Mitford’s Our Village (London, 1893,illustrations by Hugh Thomson, original pictorial cloth gilt), AlphonseDaudet’s Le Trésor d’ Arlatan (Paris, 1897, illustrations by H.Laurent-Desrousseaux printed in colours, morocco-backed boards), RudyardKipling’s A Fleet in Being (London, 1898, original pictorial cloth) andRobert Louis Stephenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses (London, 1898,illustrations by Charles Robinson, original pictorial cloth gilt). Provenance: From the Library ofthe late Sir George Engle. Please note that only a part of this lot is illustrated. The lot sold not subject to return. (19) 

Sirrendes Taübiein.Sirrendes Taübiein. Das ist: Gebundene Teufzerlein eines mit Gott verbundenen herzens ... Die achte Auflage. Leipzig: bey Samuel Benjamin Walthern, 1737. Small oblong 8vo (90 x 52mm). 2 woodcut plates before the title, text within woodcut typographical border throughout (title border shaved, some very light spotting and staining). Contemporary decorated vellum, brocade endpapers, gilt edges. RARE.

[EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1966)] - Felix EBERTY (1812-84). Die Gestime und die Weitgeschichte ... Mit einer Einleitung von Albert Einstein.[EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955)] – Felix EBERTY (1812-84).  Die Gestirne und die Weltgeschichte. Gedanken Uberzeit Raum und Ewigkeit. Neu Herausgegeben von Gregorius Itelson. Mit einer Einleitung von Albert Einstein. Berlin: Verlag von Gregor Rogoff, 1923. Small 4to (190 x 129mm). (Some very light mainly marginal spotting.) Original wrappers printed in red and green (lightly stained). Provenance: from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune. FIRST EDITION THUS. It was probably something of a coup for the publishers to secure an introduction by Albert Einstein for their reprint of Felix Eberty’s speculative work which was first published, under a pseudonym, in 1846. The title in English reads: “Stars and World History. Thoughts about Time, Space and Eternity” and it is known that Einstein had read the book and been influenced by it as a young man. His 8-line introduction, translated from the original German, and which, in this edition, makes its first appearance, reads as follows: “There is no lack of current interest in this little book, written by an original, witty person. For it shows, on the one hand, a mind that is critical toward the obsolete concept of time; on the other hand, it shows the peculiar consequences from which the theory of relativity, which so often is being charged precisely for the bizarre nature of its consequences, saves us.” RARE.

FINE, Oronce (1494-1555). De duodecim caeli domiciliis, & horis inaequalibus.FINE, Oronce (1494-1555).  De duodecim cæli domiciliis, et horis inæqualibus, libellus non aspernandus. Una cum ipsarum domorum, atque inæqualium horarum instrument, ad latitudinem Parisiensem, hactenus ignota ratione delineato. Paris: “Apud Michaëlem Vascosanum, uia Iacobæa ad insigne Fontis,” 1553. 4to (232 x 155mm). Initials, woodcut diagrams and tables (some light mainly marginal staining). Attractively bound in modern mottled sheep gilt. Provenance: from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune. FIRST EDITION of this rare treatise chiefly on astrology by one of the most influential mathematical teachers of his time, who was also known for his work as a cartographer and a designer and maker of mathematical instruments. Not in Brunet; International Bibliography of Gnomonica (1997) p. 105; Lalande Bibliographie Astronomique p.76.

[HEPPE, Johann Christoph (1745-1806)]. Kurze Beschreibung der Barometer und Thermometer auch andern zur Meteorologie gehorigen Instrumentum nebst einer Unweisung.[?HEPPE, Johann Christoph (1745-1806)].  Kurze Beschreibung der Barometer und Thermometer auch andern zur Meteorologie gehorigen Instrumenten nebst einer Unweisung. Nuremburg: Joh. Joseph Fleischmann, 1768. 8vo (170 x 100mm). Woodcut typographical decorations, ornament, tables, folding engraved plate (hole in title not affecting letters, some staining and spotting). Contemporary boards (spine worn with lower section lacking, stained). Provenance: old illegible inscription on title (resulting in hole); "A váczi kegyes-tanitórendi ház Könyvtára" (library label); from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune. FIRST EDITION. RARE.

HERMANN, Josef (1817-1902). Ueber die Wurkung des Quecksilbers auf den Menschlichen Organismus.HERMANN, Josef (1817-1902).  Ueber die Wurkung des Quecksilbers auf den Menschlichen Organismus. Teschen: Druck und Verlag von Karl Prochaska, 1873. 4to (357 x 270mm). Half title, 5 coloured lithographed plates (some mainly marginal staining and spotting to plates). Contemporary [?or original] cloth (a few stains, corners bowed). Provenance: small library label on upper cover. Provenance: from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune. FIRST EDITION. RARE. The plates graphically depict the effects of mercury poisoning on human physiognomy. Not in Howe and Holtz’s Bibliography of the Metals of the Platinum Group (Washington, 1919). 

HOFMEISTER, Wilhelm Friedrich Benedikt (1824-77). Vergleichende Untersuchungen der Keimung, Enfaltung und Fruchtbildung Hoherer Kryptogamen.HOFMEISTER, Wilhelm Friedrich Benedikt (1824-77).  Vergleichende Untersuchungen der Keimung, Entfaltung und Fruchtbildung Höherer Kryptogamen (Moose, Farrn, Equisetaceen, Rhizocarpeen und Lycopodiaceen) und der Samenbildung der Coniferen. Leipzig: Verlag von Friedrich Hofmeister [colophon:] Druck von Breitkopf und Härtel in Leipzig, 1851. 4to (267 x 220mm). 33 engraved plates (spotted throughout, some light browning and staining). Contemporary half roan and marbled boards, spine gilt (extremities rubbed). Provenance: Bibliotheca Collegii Exaeten (old stamp on title); old, partly defaced, label on title; from the Collection of Peter and Margarethe Braune. EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FIRST EDITION of this milestone in the history of biology in which the author comes to the “revolutionary conclusion that all green land plants undergo a regular alternation of dissimilar generations in their complete life histories” (Norman) and which significantly contributed to the growth of phylogenetic and evolutionary ideas. "The amount of new information presented is immense; the errors are minor and do not affect the overall picture ... With this single publication, the core of botany passed from its Middle Ages to the modern period" (DSB). The American Journal of Botany stated that the author “stands as one of the true giants in the history of biology and belongs in the same pantheon as Darwin and Mendel.” Dibner Heralds 34 (citing only the English edition of 1862); Nissen BBI 902; Norman 1083; Waller 11538.

LIEBIG, Jestus (1803-73). Die organische Chemie in ihrer Unwendung auf Physiologie und Pathologie. [etc.]LIEBIG, Justus (1803-73).  Die organische Chemie in ihrer Unwendungauf Physiologie und Pathologie. Braunschweig: Verlag von Friedrich Viewigund Sohn, 1842. 8vo (204 x 130mm). Errata leaf at the end (without the halftitle, occasional light spotting). Contemporary green cloth-backed marbledboards (extremities rubbed). FIRST EDITION of the follow-up to the author’s Dieorganische Chemie in ihrer Anwendung auf Agricultur und Physiologie (1840)whose ‘twin constellation’ Berzelius claimed represented “the dawn of a new dayin vegetable [i.e. organic] chemistry.” “In 1842 [Liebig] carried his chemicalinvestigations into the realm of animal physiology. He showed, like Lavoisier,that animal heat is not innate, but the result of combustion; introduced theconcept of metabolism (Stoffwechsel); and classified animal foodstuffsas fats, carbohydrates and proteins according to their function. He thus becamethe founder of the modern science of nutrition” (PMM 310(b)). With 5 otherworks by the same author, namely Chemische Briefe (Heidelberg, 1844,spotted, original cloth), Untersuchungen über einige Ursachen der Säftebewegungim thierischen Organismus (Braunschweig, 1848, stain to foot of title,contemporary cloth-backed marbled boards, “… a rare work which contains acareful study of osmosis and the permeability of membranes …” (Partington)), Annalender Chemie und Pharmacie. Herausgegeben von Friedrich Wöhler und Justus Liebig.Band XLII [only] (Heidelberg, 1842, modern marbled boards), Traité deChimie Organique (Brussels, 1843, modern leatherette-backed boards) and DieGrundsätz der Agricultur=Chemie (Braunschweig, 1855, contemporarycloth-backed boards). Provenance: from the Collectionof Peter and Margarethe Braune. (6)

ALEOTTI GIOVAN BATTISTA: (1546-1636) Italian Architect. Known for his designs in Parma and Ferrara of Theatres, Churches and Palaces. Rare A.L.S., `Gio. Batt.a Alleoti´, one page, oblong 4to, n.p., 25th August 1595, to Paolo Zerbinatti, in Italian. Aleotti refers to a payment and credit, and to the purchase of sugar and clothes for his daughter `..resto di suo havere da…vestito la Hernanda mia figlinela.´ Overall age wear, with large stains to the bottom part of the letter, only slightly affecting the text and signature. Two small holes and uneven edges trimmed. About FR

DELACROIX EUGENE: (1798-1863) French Romantic Artist. A.L.S., Eug Delacroix, two pages, 8vo, Champrosay, 17th October n.y. (post 1844), to a friend, in French. The artist states that he is not in Paris and cannot begin to tell his friend how much he shares in their grief at the present time, adding that his friend is one of the rare people for whom he feels a deep affection despite the fact that they haven't seen each other for some time, further remarking that the affection is based on the charming remembrances of their intimacy over many years. In concluding Delacroix states that he is not indifferent from anything that affects his correspondent and asks for his regards to be given to his mother on the sad occasion. With blank integral leaf. VG

COURBET GUSTAVE: (1819-1877) French Painter. An innovator who rejected academic convention and leaded the French Realist movement. Courbet was active in politics and was imprisoned in 1871 for his involvement with the Paris Commune, having to live in exile in Switzerland until his death. Rare A.L.S., `Gustave Courbet´, one page, 8vo, n.p., Friday 22nd July 1870, to Justice of the Peace, in French. Courbet states `I have no knowledge of what you have written to me. If Mr Rossi painter and Mr and Mrs… wish to get an appointment, at home at 11h in the morning, please designate any day, rue Hautefeuille 32..´ Courbet adds a post-scriptum, beneath his signature, asking his correspondent to inform him in time. With blank address leaf. An extremely small tear to the edge, otherwise VG

TOULOUSE-LAUTREC HENRI DE: (1864-1901) French Painter, Printmaker and Illustrator. Best remembered for his immersion in the colourful and theatrical life of Paris in the late 19th century, producing elegant and provocative images of the decadent affairs of those times. Rare A.L.S., `H´, three pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to his mother `My dear mum´, in French. Toulouse-Lautrec states in part `I have just spent two days at Grenier´s home, splashing.., under the mill´s tower, which does not lack charm. Add to this.. lunches followed by naps and boating and you will have a faint idea of the stupidity to which one arrives, of which Grenier is a perfect example ´. Toulouse-Lautrec further refers to pox and a portrait painting, saying `What you tell me about pox annoys me because I intended and still intend to travel and make the portrait of my cousin Juliette who I dare hoping that this year will accept to pose. I will still go and get the vaccine…I have no intention to go myself, unless I first come to look for you to go via Malromé. I would like to plan a stay of eight days..´ Paper with a Monksburn watermark. G to VG Toulouse-Lautrec and Grenier were fellow students in the Paris atelier of academic history painter Fernand Cormon during the 1880s and became friends. Lautrec lived briefly with Grenier and his mistress, Lili, an actress and model, and made several portrayals of the couple. Toulouse-Lautrec most probably refers in the present letter to Juliette Pascal, who was the wife of Joseph Pascal, a maternal cousin of the French painter. Toulouse-Lautrec painted Madame Juliette Pascal (1871), also At the Piano Madame Juliette Pascal in the Salon at the Chateau Malromé, post-impressionism oil works. The Chateau Malromé is located in the French department of Gironde. It became the home of Toulouse-Lautrec´s mother. 

PAALEN WOLFGANG: (1905-1959) Austrian-Mexican Painter, associated with the Surrealist movement from 1935-42 and again from 1951-54. An extremely rare A.L.S., Wolfgang (twice), four pages (separate leaves), 4to, Villa Obregon, Mexico, 25th October & 27th November 1945, to Gigi [Richter]. Paalen writes a lengthy, informative and interesting letter, on the occasion of Richter's return to England from America, beginning by sending a letter of introduction (no longer present) for Henry Moore and offering congratulations 'to your acquisitions of drawings of his - you are certainly right in your feelings for him, he is a most wonderful person', continuing to suggest an introduction to Roland Penrose ('but I am not certain what kind of a person he has become….'), recommending meeting Arthur Koestler and urging her to read Darkness at Noon and The Yogi and the Commissar, remarking 'I do not know Koestler personally, but consider him as one of the most remarkable people; he started as a rather vulgar journalist (and his first book is lousy) but is now a brilliant writer'. Paalen further writes 'I suppose you found in Anais Nin a sisterly soul for complaining about a country which you definitely do not like…Charles Givors is my alter ego and I had some fun with this alias. The book in question will be a kind of “secret” book about Mexico, so deep, that it will be transparent and pass entirely unnoticed', and also informs Richter 'I have not seen Leonora Carrington for a while, she published a little piece in “Circle”; I heard her book is very good; do not know where it is going to be published (how carefully I answer all your questions!) Nierendorf: he is the only art-dealer I ever had to do with, who not only understands something about painting, but really cares for it and for whom money is not the end but only a means. I do not think he is only a man's man, it seems he has inspired violent passions to beautiful and celebrated women. I would suggest you should not remain on one unfavourable impression and try once more, he is really a most cultivated and charming person'. Paalen also agrees that a story about art restoration could be very original, and hopes that Richter will write it, and refers to the artist Sonja Sekula, and to his wife, Alice Rahon, 'I can not blame Sonja too much; Alice too, during her stay in New York, got the impression that you did not care for her very much'. The final page of the letter is dated 27th November and Paalen apologises for the delay as he had lost Henry Moore's address, also remarking that 'What I heard in the meantime about Roland Penrose, does not make me feel like writing to him'. In a substantial postscript, again signed Wolfgang, the artist thanks Richter for a beautiful book on prehistoric cave painting ('I enjoy it very much, no other book could give me a greater pleasure in my present mood') and also refers to a proposed edition of his art journal DYN, stating 'The next number, which is very much delayed, will be an important double-number and appear in connection with a series of exhibitions concerning the new concept of space in painting. I try to do my best, but have to stick to painting more than before'. A letter of extraordinarily fine content. VGIrmingard Emma Antonia Richter (1922-2020) German-born art restorer, better known as Gigi Richter. Described as 'the doyenne of picture restorers throughout the 1940s and 1950s' Richter attended art school in New York after leaving Europe at the outbreak of World War II. She then pursued art conservation studies at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. During this time she met Paalen, his wife Alice and the artist Sonja Sekula, before moving back to England at the end of 1945 (from which time the present letter dates). Paalen's letter of introduction to Henry Moore was evidently successful; Richter rented the artist's flat in London, previously occupied by Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicolson, and the two continued to enjoy a close friendship. Richter was to pursue art restoration in London until changing career paths to become a botanist in 1960.Autograph letters by Paalen, who died aged 54, are extremely rare and American Book Prices Current record no other example as having previously appeared at auction. It is hard to imagine a letter in existence with superior content to the present example, not least for its references to the artists and writers Henry Moore, Roland Penrose, Arthur Koestler, Anais Nin, Leonora Carrington, Sonja Sekula as well as the art dealer Karl Nierendorf (1889-1947) who opened his eponymous gallery in New York in 1937. Paalen's mention of a double number of the art magazine DYN, which he founded, and which was published in Mexico City and distributed in New York, Paris and London, would appear not to have come to fruition. Only six issues of DYN were published, the last in 1944.

SEKULA SONJA: (1918-1963) Swiss-born Artist linked with the abstract expressionist movement. An extremely rare A.L.S., Sonja, one page, 4to, Mexico, 16th October 1944, to Gigi [Richter] ('Gigi dearest'), on the printed stationery of the Hotel Maria Cristina. Sekula announces that she has just returned from a bull fight ('am very drunk on it'), commenting 'the cruelty is obsessed by color and courage and the heatwave goes through the 10000 people' and also remarking about life in general in Mexico, 'in the beginning I felt quite depressed in this strange country..now I begin to awaken to it - the indian (sic) people are beautiful and serious..with pride & poverty & so much creation in their hands', mentioning that she has seen the pyramids in Teotihuacan and is slowly starting to paint again, observing that 'it is hard to live as a stranger in a hotel room' and that 'I saw Jacqueline [Lamba, who had been divorced from Andre Breton the previous year] & her friends - but still one is somehow so godam (sic) lonesome in the world no matter where you run to'. Sekula enquires if Richter is happy and in love ('I wonder sometimes what you fall in love with..but you don't know yet') and invites her to join her in Taos, but warns 'Don't tell [the Swiss art dealer, Heidi] Vollmoller or others I wrote you - I don't feel like writing to anyone' before returning to her surroundings and writing 'Am so absorbed in this incredible land - the archeology (sic) is always beyond death & the sacrifice of life is large enough to be small - In the markets you get hungry for more markets….I take long walks in the country..and always the mountains beyond, always a great silence'. Sekula concludes in an intriguing manner, 'I am afraid that I begin to like somebody here - so I shall escape soon to another planet'. A letter of wonderful content written at a significant time in the artist's career. VGIrmingard Emma Antonia Richter (1922-2020) German-born art restorer, better known as Gigi Richter. Described as 'the doyenne of picture restorers throughout the 1940s and 1950s' Richter attended art school in New York after leaving Europe at the outbreak of World War II. She then pursued art conservation studies at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University. During this time she met Sonja Sekula, as well as the surrealist Wolfgang Paalen and his wife Alice Rahon, before moving back to England at the end of 1945. Richter was to pursue art restoration in London until changing career paths to become a botanist in 1960.Autograph letters by Sekula, who committed suicide at the age of 45, are extremely rare and American Book Prices Current record no other example as having previously appeared at auction. A noted 'out' lesbian in the New York art world of the 1940s, Sekula sadly led a troubled life of mental health issues, at times evident in the present letter.  

PARETO VILFREDO: (1848-1923) Italian Engineer, Economist and Philosopher. Pareto made important contributions to economics, sociology and mathematics. The Pareto principle was named after him. A fine A.L.S., `Vilfredo Pareto´, a bold and large signature, four pages, 8vo, Céligny, 24th March 1904, in French. A lengthy and clean letter by Pareto, stating in part `I depart tomorrow to Italy, I will be back here towards the 15th of April. I have been a little lazy writing articles, and this is the reason why you have not received any…. I still work on my manual, but it progresses like a turtle´, further referring to the political situation in France `People say that Combes will fall, I really regret. Believe me, actually there is nothing worse for the bourgeoisie than getting bogged down in a fake security. Its end can only come from one of the following two sides, either a big European war, or from the revolutionary excesses. It is true that Combes could be replaced by someone worse… Have you seen that the law related to the weekly rest in Italy (it was in fact the Sunday rest) has not been approved at the Chamber.´ Pareto further again makes interesting comments about the Italian political situation, and before concluding states `The courses at the stock exchange of Paris are fully distorted by the arbitrary intervention of the stockbrokers. If the war continues and spreads, you will see what a great catastrophe has been prepared.´ A rare letter of very good content. EXEmile Combes (1835-1921) French Statesman. Combes led the ''Bloc des gauches'', left political parties from 1902 to 1905.

VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his name being François-Marie Arouet. Voltaire is known for his attacks on Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion and expression, and separation of church and state. Rare L.S., `V´, unedited, two pages, 4to, Ferney, 12th September 1776, to Monsieur Audibert, of the Academy of Marseille, in French. An interesting content letter, Voltaire referring to the Compagnie du Mississipi, to the Paris brothers and to a dedicated work. Voltaire states in part `It is with pain, Monsieur, that I am obliged to forward to you the letter of this strange man, who surely was not arrested by mistake - supposing that he was really arrested…´ Voltaire further refers to a book he has recently read, a biography of the four Pâris brothers dedicated to his correspondent, saying `J´ai lu il n´y a pas longtemps une vie des quatre freres Paris, laquelle vous est dédiée.´ Voltaire comments his thoughts on the Compagnie du Mississipi, stating `..everything related to the madness of the Mississippi and the visa is faithfully reported. This great shipwreck and this institution are two unique adventures..´ Signed beneath the expression `The sick old man´. With address leaf, bearing a red wax seal. Small area of paper loss to the address leaf as a result of the letter opening. VG The Mississippi Company was founded in 1684, later named Company of the West and Company of the Indies. It was a corporation holding a business monopoly in French colonies in north-America and West Indies. The rise and fall of the company is connected with Scottish economist John Law who was appointed by the Duke of Orleans, Regent of Louis XV, as Controller General of Finances of France. Voltaire compared John Law to a charlatan who would poisoned himself with his own drug. The Mississippi Company became one the earliest examples of an economic bubble.  The Pâris brothers were in exile when the Mississippi Company and the Banque Royale crashed. They were asked by Louis XV to return to Paris in order to take in charge the Treasure debts revision, in the same way they did when Louis XIV passed away.

SAINT-EXUPERY ANTOINE DE: (1900-1944) French Writer, Poet and pioneering Aviator. French aristocrat who became a laureate of several France's highest literary awards and is best remembered for his novella The Little Prince ('Le Petit Prince'), 1943, and for his lyrical aviation writings, including Night Flight (1931) and Wind, Sand and Stars (1939). Rare autograph manuscript by Saint-Exupery, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d., in French. Saint-Exupery, in his usual very difficult writing, seems to annotate twelve lengthy lines of his thoughts which could be a draft for one of his articles for the newspapers. The partially transcribed document states in part `It was simply a man´s house….and I was feeling as we were all friends.. But I was embarking in this deceiving drama… this room with the curtains closed..´ Overall age wear, mostly to edges with very small minor tears not affecting the text, otherwise G Saint-Exupéry disappeared over the Mediterranean on a reconnaissance mission in July 1944, and is believed to have died at that time. Prior to the war, Saint-Exupéry had achieved fame in France as an aviator. His literary works - among them The Little Prince, translated into over 250 languages and dialects - posthumously boosted his stature to national hero status in France.

TOMASI DI LAMPEDUSA GIUSEPPE: (1896-1957) Italian Writer, the last Prince of Lampedusa. Rare signed and inscribed book by Lampedusa, being a 4to paperback edition of the book En Sicile by Gabriel Fauré, in French. Signed and inscribed in Italian by Tomasi di Lampedusa to the title page `To my very dear Guido, twenty years have passed, but always with the same affection, Giuseppe´, also dated 21st July 1951. The 200 pages edition, published by B. Arthaud in 1951, numbered 505, includes 181 gravures showing images of Sicily. s, 1917. Lampedusa dedicates the book to his close friend Guido Lajolo, with whom he served in the same regiment during World War I. The book includes a separate map of Sicily. Overall age wear with foxing stains to the covers. Some age toning to the edges of the pages. G

JOHNSON WALTER: (1887-1946) American baseball Player and Manager. Nicknamed “Barney” and “The Big Train”. Johnson played as pitcher for the Washington Senators during his 21 years of baseball career in the Major League. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. Johnson established several pitching records, some of which remain unbroken nine decades after. Very rare signed postcard photograph `Walter Johnson´, the image showing Johnson in a full length pose, playing for the Washington Senators. Also dated 1916 in Johnson´s hand beneath his signature. To the verso, the postcard bears a postmark, Washington, 6th September 1916, also bearing a small newspaper article affixed, dated 1916, and entitled “Walter Johnson really himself against Yanks”. Very small silvering, otherwise, VG

BAUDELAIRE CHARLES: (1821-1868) French Poet, a pioneering translator of Edgar Allan Poe. An excellent and rare autograph letter incorporating an autograph poem, unsigned, one page, 12mo, n.p., Tuesday 3rd November, n.y., in French. Baudelaire addresses a short message to an unidentified woman stating `Vous m´avez envoyé des vers sans papillon, permettez-moi de vous offrir des fleurs sans vers, et pour vous prouver que mon gout a su comprendre le votre, mettez-les ce soir à votre boutonniere.´, (`You sent me verses without a personal note, allow me to offer you flowers without verses, and to prove that my taste has understood yours, put them in your buttonhole this evening.´) At the base of the page Baudelaire states or entitles his poem `Pas toujours la Nature embellit la Beauté´, (`Not always Nature embellishes Beauty´), the Nature and the Beauty is a subject Baudelaire would write about more extensively, and beneath writes a four verse poem `…….C´est donc lui la beauté, car c´est moi la nature. - Si toujours la nature embellit la beauté….´ Autograph verses by Baudelaire are extremely rare and sought after, and this piece elegantly combines a letter and a poem, for which only this manuscript is known. With blank integral leaf. Small overall minor age wear, very small clipped corner to the upper left and very small tear to the bottom edge. G

JACOB MAX: (1876-1944) French Poet and Painter. A good A.L.S., Max Jacob, two pages, 4to, Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire, 28th October 1925, to an unidentified friend, in French. Jacob refers to the fifteen pages he is sending to his correspondent, stating in part `They are part of a volume still unfinished and which will belong (in future) to the N.R.F. but in the meantime they belong only to me…´ Further saying `I still live immersed in this solitude of the Loire. Solitude which is not relative, not because of the trips to Paris which are quite rare, but because of visitors… But can I commit myself to send you prose, me whose time is taken by the painting and by the eternal novel in course which is like the rifle for the soldier, the bed for the sick patient, the table for the gluttonous..´ Jacob also refers on two occasions to one of his paintings Tableau de la Bourgeoisie, saying to a post-scriptum written to the left border `It rains a lot. Autumn gives continuity to a sad Summer. I am finishing Le Tableau de la Bourgeoisie. I will be publishing a book of verses this winter with Kra, and have started a book without topic.´ Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise G to VG   

ELIOT T. S.: (1888-1965) American-born English Poet & Dramatist. Nobel Prize winner for Literature, 1948. Rare T.L.S., T.S. Eliot, one page, 4to, London, 25th February 1952, to Miss M. St. Clare Byrne. The letter bears two holograph corrections by Eliot. On the printed stationery of Publishers Faber and Faber Limited, Eliot states `..since although I had long given up questioning you on the subject, I had not forgotten the proposed edition of the Lyall  (corrected by Eliot) Lisle letters. I knew that you had great difficulty in getting on with this work during the War, and I hoped that you had not abandoned it altogether.´ further concluding `… I shall certainly not decline to allow my name to be used as a patron of this programme.´ An interesting letter referring to Viscount Lisle correspondence. With a file hole to the upper left corner not affecting the text. EX Muriel St. Clare Byrne (1895-1983)Prominent historical Researcher, specializing in the Tudor period and the reign of Henry VIII of England. John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland (1504-1553) English General and Politician who led, as a De Facto England ruler, the government of King Edward VI 1550-53, and unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after the King's death. The voluminous edition of Duke of Northumberland correspondence would be published in 1981 long after Eliot´s death.

BERNOULLI JOHANN II: (1710-1790) Jean Bernoulli. Mathematician. He succeeded his father Johann Bernoulli as professor of mathematics in the University of Basel. Bernoulli received multiple awards of the Academy of Sciences of Paris. His two sons Johann and Jakob are he last noted mathematicians of the Bernoulli family who contributed substantially to the development of mathematics and physics. Rare A.L.S., `J.Bernoulli´, two pages, 4to, Basel, 29th October 1767, to an unidentified colleague and mathematician, in French. Bernoulli explains to his correspondent that a disciple of him, mathematician, will visit him, stating in part `..the young man got in the past mathematic lessons with me during six months or even more, he is capable to resolve quite easily algebra problems, has been through geometry…he started with the infinitesimal calculus..´ Bernoulli further suggests that his correspondent makes a test to his recommended disciple in order to better know his knowledge level. Before concluding, Bernoulli states `..the literary news and the academy inaction are still the same, and this is the reason why I am so remiss in starting correspondence..´ Small overall minor age wear, with very small creasing to the lower edge, otherwise G

KASNER EDWARD: (1878-1955) American Mathematician who introduced the term 'googol'. D.S., Edward Kasner, with his position as Professor of Mathematics at Columbia University added in his hand beneath his signature, one page, 4to, New York, April 1953. Kasner responds to a researcher's questionnaire in homage to Albert Einstein, with their questions at the head of the page, 1. What kind of a place do you assign to Einstein in modern science? 2. What sort of an influence has he exerted upon your work? Or what do you owe to him? 3. What kind of a place does he occupy in the history of world science? Kasner's dictated answers appear immediately beneath in an unidentified hand, '1. The Greatest. 2. I have written a dozen papers on the Einstein Theory. These are published mainly in American Journal Mathematics…….3. Next to Archimedes and Newton'. Rare. A few light creases and a couple of light, minor stains to the right edge, none of which affect the signature. About VG

VOLTA ALESSANDRO: (1745-1827) Italian Physicist. A pioneer in electricity, known for his invention of the battery in the 1800s. The electrical unit, volt, is named in his honour. Rare D.S., `Alessandro Volta, Professore´, one page, 4to, Pavia, 31st May 1790. The partially printed document, in Italian, bearing an attractive and large printed monogram to the heading, is a formal receipt acknowledging the payment of 340 lire, his salary from the University of Pavia. Boldly signed by Volta at the base of the document. Overall age wear and small foxing. Uneven bottom edge. About G Volta became professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Pavia in 1778. During his nearly 40 year tenure at Pavia, Volta became one of Europe´s most eminent physicists through his experiments with electricity and the invention of the electrical conductor now known as the “voltaic pile”, the world´s first direct current battery. 

RICHTER CHARLES F.: (1900-1985) American Seismologist & Physicist, creator of the Richter magnitude scale. A rare T.L.S., Charles F. Richter, one page, 4to, Pasadena, California, 30th August 1948, to Paul C. Jones, on the printed stationery of the Seismological Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. Richter writes, in part, 'Faults are shown on the large Geological Map of California issued by the State Division of Mines…..Another large scale map, compiled in 1922, and hence obsolete in some particulars, is obtainable from the Secretary of the Seismological Society of America…..' Accompanied by the original envelope. One extremely small, minor tear to the left edge of a fold, otherwise VG

PONTECORVO BRUNO: (1913-1993) Italian-Russian Nuclear Physicist, an early assistant of Enrico Fermi. A slim 4to printed booklet signed by Pontecorvo, being a copy of an essay entitled Electron and Muon Neutrinos which appeared in the Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics published by the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, Volume 37, issue 6 (12) in 1959. Printed in Cyrillic and with a concluding paragraph in English regarding Pontecorvo's experiment. Signed ('B. Pontecorvo') in ink to the upper edge of the front cover and dated Dubna 1970 in his hand. Accompanied by the original envelope. Rare. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG 

FLEMING ALEXANDER: (1881-1955) Scottish Biologist, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology or Medicine, 1945. A rare manuscript D.S., Alexander Fleming, one page, 4to, n.p., n.d. (annotated 4th September 1949 in ink in an unidentified hand at the foot). Fleming responds to a researcher's questionnaire featuring their questions at the head of the page, '1. Were your scientific "debuts" easy or difficult? 2. Did means of living (another profession or a private income) enable you to make yourself known in science?.......3. What work (or what discovery) made yourself more famous? Which do you consider as your master piece (sic)?' The biologist provides his answers below, in full, '1. Merely the result of years of hard work and observation. 2. No. 3. Penicillin because this has been useful to mankind. Perhaps best work was on the action of antiseptics or on lysozymes.' Documents or letters in any form signed by Fleming in which he refers to penicillin are rare and desirable. Some light age wear and minor creasing, largely to the extreme edges, a small area of paper loss to the upper edge and some ink show through from a few annotations in the hand of the researcher to the verso, only very slightly affecting a few words of Fleming's text and not the signature. G

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS: A rare multiple signed First Day of Issue Commemorative cover honouring the 100th Anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington DC, 1863-1963, featuring the signatures of eleven recipients of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry comprising Harold C. Urey (1893-1981; American Physical Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1934), Adolf Butenandt (1903-1995; German Biochemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1939), Robert Robinson (1886-1975; British Organic Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1947), Glenn T. Seaborg (1912-1999; American Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1951), Linus Pauling (1901-1994; American Chemist, Biochemist & Peace Activist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1954 and Nobel Peace Prize winner, 1962), Vincent du Vigneaud (1901-1978; American Biochemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1955), Alexander Todd (1907-1997; Baron Todd, Scottish Biochemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1957), Melvin Calvin (1911-1997; American Biochemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1961), Dorothy Hodgkin (1910-1994; British Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1964), Robert B. Woodward (1917-1979; American Organic Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1965) and George Porter (1920-2002; British Chemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1967). All have signed in blue or black inks with their names alone to clear areas of the cover. Post marked at Washington DC, 14th October 1963. An impressive grouping of signatures. VG

SODDY FREDERICK: (1877-1956) English Radiochemist, Nobel Prize winner for Chemistry, 1921. Typed Statement Signed, F Soddy, one page, 4to, Brighton, n.d. (c. May 1952). Soddy's statement is made in response to a question posed by a researcher investigating the future of science, the question handwritten at the head of the page, 'In a brilliant article entitled “An Epoch in Science”……Jules Romains writes 'The exploration of the physical universe has no assignable limits; but it seems likely, however, that discoveries of the first order of magnitude will be limited in number. The future will rather have to content itself with prodigious achievements of secondary importance, now unforeseeable, and with applications (of discoveries already made). Pure science has already unlocked the most important secrets of the universe. Our era is not likely to be surpassed……' Is Jules Romains right? What is your opinion, from a chemical point of view?' Soddy responds, in full, 'I remember at the end of last century the brilliant inventors of phrases were saying much the same things but is it not obvious that what you want to know must in any case be a matter of guesswork? I certainly don't know what is going to happen in the future'. Rare. VG

ZIEGLER KARL: (1898-1973) German Chemist. Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963 together with Giulio Natta for their work on high polymers. Rare bold blue ink signature `Friendly regards, Karl Ziegler´, in German, to a postcard photograph, postmarked 13th November 1963, from the Max Planck Institute, on the year of his Nobel award. G

NATTA GIULIO: (1903-1979) Italian Chemist. Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963 together with Karl Ziegler for their work on high polymers. Rare bold blue ink signature `Cordialmente Giulio Natta´, to a postcard photograph, postmarked 20th June 1977. The front colour image shows three images of Macerata. VG

CREVAUX JULES: (1847-1882) French Explorer, Doctor and former Soldier. Best known for his explorations of French Guiana and the Amazon. Crevaux and all his expedition members were clubbed to death by the Toba Indians tribe when exploring the upper course of the Pilcomayo river in Bolivia. Rare A.L.S., Jules Crevaux, two pages, 8vo, Lorquin, Alsace-Lorraine, 21st October 1881, to `Mon cher Maitre´, in French. Crevaux explains to his correspondent, describing himself as `your devoted student´, his expedition plan and what would end being his last travel exploration, and states in part `..travel from Rio de la Plata to the Amazon, ascending to Paraguay, then descending the almost unknown Tapajos..´ Crevaux explains that because summer is starting in South-America he intends to leave France before six weeks in order to `..enjoy and benefit of the good water to go up this grandiose river..´ Letters of Crevaux are rare after his early death at the age of 35. The present letter explains what was going to be his travel expedition plans, and ended with his assassination. A letter of very interesting content. VG

INNOCENT XII: (1615-1700) Pope of the Roman catholic church 1691-1700. Former Apostolic Nuncio to Poland and Austria.  Innocent XII issued a papal bull strictly forbidding nepotism. Rare L.S., `Card. Pignatelli´, one page, 4to, Faenza, 27th October 1682, in Italian. Innocent XII, in his capacity as Archbishop of Faenza, states `Hanno volute le S.S.V.V rinuovarmi la memoria della loro solita… annunciandomi prosperita nel S. Natale; onde anch´io sono con questa ad accerbarle d´haver ricevuto..´, and before concluding says `..e bacio loro col fine le mani.´ Signed by the Pope in bold black ink to the right bottom corner. Uneven bottom edge. Very small overall minor age wear, otherwise about VG

PIUS VI: (1717-1799) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1775-99. Rare and attractive L.S., `Pius P.P. VI´, a bold black ink signature, one page, folio, Palace of Vatican, 20th February 1783, to Domenico Nardini, in Italian. A very cleanly written letter, the Pope requesting that his correspondent and general administrator and procurator of the private patrimony `..vi piacerá di far pagare alli seguenti nostri Ministri in ogni mese, incominciando dal corrente mese di Febraro, e cosi proseguire da mese in mese fino anuovo ordine in contratio, come in appreso..´ (“..you will please pay the following Ministers, each month, starting from the current month of February, and continue from month to month until new order is given agains this one..´ The document further lists four names and their posts, including `Abate Giuseppe Pecci Curiale per onorario…Giovanni Ronacalli…´ With blank integral leaf. Professionally repaired to the verso. Very small age toning, mostly to upper and right borders, otherwise G to VG

JOHN XXIII: (1881-1963) Pope of the Roman Catholic Church 1958-1963. Beatified in 2000 and Canonized in 2014. A highly unusual D.S., + Ange Roncalli, twice, as Apostolic Nuncio to France, two pages, 4to, Ankara, 26th December 1944. The partially printed document, completed in typescript, is an United States Air Transport Command Priority Identification Certificate in which authority is requested for Roncalli to travel on an Air Transport Command aircraft from Ankara to Cairo on 27th December 1944, detailing the reason for travel as 'To take up post as Papal Nuncio at Paris'. The document is also signed by various officials, one of whom certifies that 'the movement of this passenger is necessary and essential to the successful prosecution of the war, and that the mission of this passenger is of such urgency that transportation by air is necessary' and also provides details of Roncalli's permanent address at the Vatican City and records his personal weight as being 95kg and an authorised baggage allowance of 50kg. The second page of the document is a release declaration signed by Roncalli stating that the flight will be made at his own risk and responsibility, and in consideration of the permission extended to him by the United States he discharges the American government and its officers and agents 'from any and all claims, demands, action or causes of action, on account of my death or on account of any injury to me which may occur by reasons of the said flight….', further stating that the Vatican City should be notified in case of an emergency. A rare document relating to what is understood to be the first flight to have been made by a Pope, and a Saint. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG On 22nd December 1944, during World War II, Pope Pius XII named Roncalli to be the new Apostolic Nuncio to the recently liberated France. In this capacity he would negotiate the retirement of bishops who had collaborated with the German occupying power. Roncalli left Ankara on 27th December 1944 and made a series of short haul flights taking him to Cairo, Beirut and Naples. On 28th December 1944 he arrived in Rome and the next day left for France to begin his new role.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660) French Catholic Priest. Venerated both in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII. Vincent de Paul is known for his humility and for serving the poor. Extremely rare L.S., `Vincent de Paul I[ndigne] P[retre] D[e] l[a] M[ission]´, (''Vincent de Paul, Unworthy Priest of the Mission''), two pages, 8vo, Paris, 3rd May 1658, to Firmin Get, in French. The written text is in the hand of Saint Vincent de Paul´s secretary Bertrand Ducournau. Saint Vincent de Paul refers to the Algier Expedition, showing the importance he is attributing to it, and states in part `It would have been good that you could have met M. Paul as I did beg you, although there was no appearance that he would have executed his proposal; because at least you would have been able to discover more particularly his feelings regarding such a venture and make some conclusions which could help us..´, further and referring to same expedition, Saint Vincent de Paul refers to extremely important members of the Royal family such as the King´s son, who might be involved in his project, saying `..if feasible, Madame the Duchess of Aiguillon has promised herself to convince M. De Beaufort to do it..´ A letter of god content and association. With address leaf, bearing an attractive blind embossed seal, showing a religious image with the text “Cong. Missionis - Svp. Generalis”, to a paper seal in very fine condition affixed to the verso. Small overall age wear, otherwise in fine condition. About VG Firmin Get (1621-1682) Superior of the Mission in Marseille. Bertrand Ducournau (1614-1667) Saint Vincent de Paul´s secretary since 1645. By his devotion, tact and love of work, this good brother rendered inestimable services to Saint Vincent and his Congregation. Through his preparation of materials and his personal notes, he contributed to the first biography of Saint Vincent. François de Vendome (1616-1669) Duc de Beaufort. Son of Cesar de Vendome, the illegitimate son of King of France Henri IV and Gabrielle d´Estrées.

LIGUORI ALPHONSUS: (1696-1787) Italian Catholic Bishop, Canonized a Saint by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839. Liguori, one of the most widely read Catholic authors, was also a composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher and theologian, and is the patron saint of confessors. An extremely rare Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, four pages, 8vo, n.p., n.d., in Italian. The manuscript is in the form of a religious prayer in the hand of Liguori, in part, 'My God, You who are so full of love and mercy, please save us from evil'. The manuscript would appear to have been created for use in a mass, with certain sections missing which Liguori would seemingly have been able to recite from memory. To the left column of the final page appears an autograph declaration signed by Giuseppe Murrone, a priest in charge of the congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, confirming that the prayer is entirely in the hand of Liguori. Signed at Monterone and dated 22nd August 1836 (by which time Liguori had been beatified by Pope Pius VII, in 1816). A blind embossed paper seal is neatly affixed beneath Murrone's declaration. Some light overall damp staining, only very slightly affecting the text, which remains completely legible. G

BOSCO JOHN: (1815-1888) Don Bosco. Italian Roman Catholic Priest, Educator and Writer. He developed teaching methods based on love rather than punishment, a method known as the Salesian Preventive System. Founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Canonized as a saint in 1934. Rare A.L.S., Sac. G. Bosco - Figliastro, one page, 8vo, Torino, 26th June 1877, to [Countess Callori], in Italian. On the printed stationery of the "Oratorio di s. Franc. di Sales", Bosco writes to his correspondent, addressing her `Mia Buona Mamma´ and confirms he will visit her that evening `With good appetite´. Further referring to his joy at having learned she is feeling better, `I pray God that He keeps you healthy for many long years and under his protection´. Some very light overall age wear, otherwise VG

FOUCAULD CHARLES DE: (1858-1916) Foucauld was a former cavalry Officer in the French army, he would later become an Explorer, and finally a Catholic Priest. Foucauld lived as a hermit, among the Tuareg in the Algerian Sahara. In 1916 Foucauld was assassinated and is considered by the Catholic Church a martyr. The Little Brothers of Jesus were found after him. An excellent and rare A.L.S., `Fr[ere] Charles de Jésus´, one page, 8vo, `Beni-Abbes (extreme Sud Oranais) Algerie´, Algeria, 10th March 1905, to his congregation superior, in French. To the upper left corner, Foucauld annotates “IESUS CARITAS´, adding a sketch of a cross above a heart. To a cleanly written letter, Foucauld states in part `I dare writing to you again to beg you to send me by post-mail the complete series of your ten volumes, Attente de Jésus, Jesus enfant, etc.. I also take the liberty of asking you to be kind and send to me “Marie d´apres l´Evangile” when the book will be printed.´ Foucauld further explains that he will pay for the books over two payments, and before concluding states `Thanking you for all the good you bring to my soul with your books, I kneel at your feet, supplicating your blessing and to implore Jesus for my conversion.´ Extremely small age wear, otherwise G to VG In 2020, Pope Francis authorized the process for his canonization.

PIO OF PIETRELCINA: (1887-1968) Italian Priest & Mystic, famous for bearing the stigmata for most of his life, causing much controversy. Padre Pio was canonized in 2002. A very rare D.S., `P. Pio Cappuccino´, by Pio of Pietrelcina to the verso of a cheque. The colour partially printed attractive document being a signed cheque, drawn on the La Banca Toscana bank, 22nd August 1951, and is made payable to Padre Pio for the sum of 500 lire. Signed by Pio of Pietrelcina to the verso in bold blue ink, acknowledging receipt of the sum. Very small minor creasing. Accompanied by a 5 x 7 photograph of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, unsigned, showing him outdoors in a three quarters length pose wearing his Order of friars Capucin habits. VG

RENDU ROSALIE: (1786-1856) Born Jeanne-Marie Rendu. French Daughter of Charity. Rendu was a worker and organizer of care for the poor during the course of the Industrial Revolution. Rendu was beatified by the Catholic Church for the holiness of her life. Rare A.L.S., `Rosalie´, one page, 8vo, Paris, 7th December 1844, to Monsieur Durand, in French. Rendu wishes to receive promptly some books she asked for at Dupond´s library in Paris, stating `Have you been able to get the books I asked you some time ago? I have an opportunity to send them tomorrow, you would very much please me if you could give them to the bearer of this letter..´ With address leaf in the hand of Rendu. Very small area of paper loss to the address leaf as a result of the letter opening. G 

GRIMOD DE LA REYNIERE ALEXANDRE BALTHAZAR LAURENT: (1758-1837) French Gourmand and Gastronome who acquired fame during the reign of Napoleon for his lifestyle. The first public critic of cooking, Grimod is considered to be 'one of the founders of the modern French culture'. A fine, rare A.L.S., with his initials G D L R, three pages, 4to, Beziers, 7th March 1791, to his mistress [Adele] Feuchere, in French. Closely written in his small hand, Grimod sends his mistress an affectionate letter, and also makes several gastronomic references, 'I don't know if in your city there are many lovers who are separated….but I think that the feelings are no less strong. There are here many quite beautiful young ladies, many handsome men, and I don't hear about any gossip, so that we could deliver certificates of chastity to everybody', remarking that he sees old devout ladies who have very good tables, especially in the Bishopric, where he is treated the best, 'My rest here is good to gain weight and I will return to you round as a ball and as fat as a barrel. All this weight will be good for you'. Grimod also tells his lover that he will send some partridge, commenting that they are currently drier than in the Autumn, 'but still extremely good when they are not overcooked. I think you should make a very good cold pate with them', and explaining that they are rare at present as they have been hunted a lot, further writing 'When Lent starts I will choose beautiful ones for you in the market. I am also sending you some dry fruits and chestnuts'. The gourmand declares that his appetite is excellent and he has not suffered any stomach problems despite postponing his medicine 'so that I am not obliged to diet….and miss some very good banquets'. In concluding Grimod states that he thinks of the pleasures of seeing Feuchere soon when he 'will press you in my arms and will get so ecstatic with you in the sweetest flavours of love', declaring 'I kiss all parts of your pretty little body with my most ardent kisses'. The final page bears an address panel in Grimod's hand and with a small area of paper loss, slightly affecting a few words of text, caused by the original breaking of the seal (parts of which are still present). Some light staining and minor age wear, about VG

CARNARVON EARL OF: (1866-1923) English Aristocrat, best known as the financial backer of the search for and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. An extremely rare A.L.S., Carnarvon, one page, 8vo, Seamore Place, London, 26th April 1919, to a gentleman. Carnarvon informs his correspondent that he has sold his house in Berkeley Square and is trying to move into Seamore Place, explaining that if he can find the tailpiece he will let his correspondent know, 'but everything is in a state of extreme chaos here'. In concluding Carnarvon further remarks 'I have also got a drawing of Mrs. Pinchwife'. A few spots of light foxing, some minor creasing and a few small, neat tears to the edges and with a minor area of paper loss to the upper edge, G Mrs. Margery Pinchwife is a character in the Restoration comedy The Country Wife written in 1675 by William Wycherley. The play reflects an aristocratic anti-Puritan ideology, and was controversial for its sexual explicitness.

DION JULES FELIX DE: (1856-1946) Marquis de Dion de Wandonne. A Pioneer of the automobile industry in France. Dion invented a steam-powered car. He was co-founder of one of the world´s largest automobile factory of its time as well as the French sports newspaper L´Équipe. Rare bold dark ink signature `M[arqu]is de Dion´, to a 4to page, signed beneath a 1.5 x 2 sepia photograph, the image depicting Dion standing outdoors in a full length pose. The collector´s page has been affixed to a larger page with few tears to the edges. Accompanied by the letter and postmarked envelope sent together with the autograph, bearing the Chambre des Députés printed heading, affixed to the verso. Overall creasing. About G

DU GAST CAMILLE: (1868-1942) French celebrity of the Belle Epoque, and one of the richest French widows of her time, known for her important and extensive charity work. Du Gast was a Pianist, Singer, and a pioneer sportswoman, Balloonist and motor Racer, the second woman to ever compete in an international motor race. Du Gast was also a pioneer Feminist, and President of the Society for the protection of the animals. Rare bold dark ink signature with inscription `J´aurais mauvaise grace, Monsieur, a refuser un autographe si aimablement demandé. Camille du Gard´, dated below in her hand in Paris, 19th October 1913, to a 4to page, signed beneath a 1.5 x 2 sepia photograph, the image depicting Du Gard in a half full length pose, to Monsieur Tournant. The collector´s page has been affixed to a larger page. Accompanied by the original letter and postmarked envelope sent together with the autograph, addressed in her hand, affixed to the verso. Overall creasing. G Du Gast was the main figure in the Parisian scandal known as La Femme au Masque (“The Woman with Mask”), when she was intentionally and maliciously named as the nude model in the notorious painting by Henri Gervex.

LAFARGE MARIE-FORTUNÉE: (1816-1852) Also known as Marie Capelle. French woman convicted of murdering her husband by arsenic poisoning. First person convicted on forensic toxicological evidence. Rare A.L.S., `Marie Cappelle´, two pages, 8vo, n.p., 30th May 1829, to a young friend, in French. A youth letter by Lafarge referring to her recent illness, and commenting on common friends and about a near future meeting, states in part `..Therefore, I wait for your visit in fifteen days, and I hope that this time you will not miss the meeting, as it will be quite unpleasant, considering that we will have fun all together, I am rejoicing like a mad..´ On a post-scriptum beneath her signature, Marie Cappelle says `I have received today a letter from Jenny. Do not worry, I will not show it to my uncle..´ With address leaf bearing two postmarks. Small professional repair to the verso. Small overall minor age wear. G Lafarge´s trial became notable in 1840, being the first court case followed daily by the public through newspapers. Her guilt divided French society to such an extent that it is often compared to the Dreyfus affair. Very famous scientists of that time participated as experts in this trial. Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853) known today as the Father of Toxicology, called by the prosecutor, declared having found arsenic in the body of Lafarge. The defence, in order to refute Orfila´s testimony, called François-Vincent Raspail (1794-1878) French chemist and physician. But although Raspail had agreed, he arrived four hours late to court, when the jury had decided that Marie was guilty. She was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. King Louis-Philippe commuted the hard labour. While in prison Marie wrote her memoirs. In 1852, stricken by tuberculosis, she was released by Napoleon III. She died that same year, protesting her innocence to the last.  

MCCUDDEN JAMES: (1895-1918) English Fighter Ace of World War I, Victoria Cross winner for his flying services over France, August 1917 - March 1918. Extremely rare D.S., `J. B. McCudden´, one page, 4to, France, 29th December 1917. The partially printed typed document is a typed letter report relating to Combats in the Air prepared by McCudden following his action in a S.E.5. Aircraft at Havrincourt, in the Pas-de Calais area, France, stating `Left aerodrome at 9a.m. and crossed the lines E of Gouzeaucourt at 9.45 at 14,000. Saw 3 E.A. two-seaters coming W. I dived on these followed by my patrol and drove an L.V.G. down from 13,500 to the ground, then E.A. made a pretence of landing in our lines, but put his engine on again and made N.E. at about 10 feet. I headed him W again, but he again turned E, so I fired another burst into him and then he got into a flat spin and crashed at sheet 57c. K 28. D. near Havrincourt at 9.55 a.m. Climbed and only found two embers of my patrol. I then approached 4 Albatros Scouts over Bois de Vancelles, who went down E. Several E.A. two-seaters patrolling E of the Canal at Vendhuille at  about 3000 feet, too low to engage. Returned 10.50.´ An excellent signed document relating directly to McCudden's 36th Aerial Victory (from a total of 57 confirmed Victories). Few file holes to the upper left corner and border not affecting the text or signature. VG

TEUFEL ERASMUS VON: (c.1480-1552) Baron de Gundersdorf. Austrian General in the service of Emperor Ferdinand I of Habsburg who was present at the first siege of Vienna by the Turks and the Battle of Plastovcu in 1552. At the latter he was captured by Suleiman the Magnificent's forces and executed, apparently by being thrown to sea. An extremely rare D.S., Eras Teufel, one page, folio, n.p., 6th April 1546. The boldly penned manuscript document, in an unidentified hand and untranslated language, is signed by Teufel at the foot and apparently originated from the collection of the 19th century German philographer Carl Kunzel (1808-1877). Some light overall age wear and a few small, minor tears, creases and areas of paper loss to the edges, otherwise VG

ZUMBACH JAN: (1915-1986) Polish WWII flying Ace, a squadron Commander during WWII 1942-43. After the war, Zumbach became a mercenary in Africa. Rare D.S., `J.Zumbach´, one page, 4to, France, 2nd of July 1941. The typed document, classified to the heading "SECRET", and bearing the typed title "Personal Combat Report - F/O Zumbach (Polish)", is a report relating to Combats in the Air prepared by Zumbach following his action with the 303 Polish Squadron, at Lille - Mid Channel, France, stating `Attacks by Me. 109´s began just before we reached Lille and were kept up until we were over the Channel on the way back. The E/A attacked in small formations of up to four aircraft from above, and seeing two diving towards the bombers I got on to their tails and from 150 yds. with cannons and m/ g´s sent one down with flames coming from it. I gave a very short burst at three further Me. 109´s which flashed across but saw no results, and then from 150 yds. made a quarter attack on another, with my machine guns only, which cork-screwed down a long way until it was out of sight. A parachute was seen floating down near the downward course of the E/A. I fired 24 rounds from each of two cannons and 160 rounds from each of m/g´s.´ One file hole to the upper corner not affecting the text or signature. G to VG Zumbach did not fly during the German invasion of Poland due to a broken leg from a flying accident during the summer of 1939. On June 1940, he travelled to England by boat and was posted as one of the founding members of the newly formed 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. During the Battle of Britain, Zumbach scored eight victories. Zumbach became one of the first Allied pilots to engage in combat with a German Focke-Wulf. Zumbach was shot down twice but was able on both occasions to bail out unharmed. He spent the last month of the war as a prisoner of war.

[JAPANESE SURRENDER]: An unusual commemorative envelope featuring a neatly affixed 6.5 x 4 magazine photograph taken on the occasion of the Surrender of Japan on board the USS Missouri at Tokyo Bay on 2nd September 1945, individually signed by Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964, American General of the Army who officially accepted the Surrender of Japan in his capacity as Supreme Allied Commander; signed 'D. MacA'), Chester W. Nimitz (1885-1966, American Fleet Admiral, signatory to the instrument of surrender) and Jonathan Wainwright (1883-1953, American General, Commander of Allied Forces in the Philippines at the time of the Japanese Surrender) and further signed to a clear area of the envelope by Arthur Percival (1887-1966, British Lieutenant General, present at the Japanese Surrender, and known for his own surrender to the Imperial Japanese Army following the Battle of Singapore in 1942, representing the largest surrender in British military history). Post marked at Washington DC, 28th September 1945. A rare grouping of signatures. Some light overall age wear and minor scuffing to the lower left corner of the image, about VG 

MOUNTBATTEN LOUIS: (1900-1979) British Admiral of World War II. A typed souvenir copy of the Instrument of Surrender of Japanese Forces under the Command or Control of the Supreme Commander, Japanese Expeditionary Forces, Southern Regions, within the Operational Theatre of the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia, two pages, 4to, originally signed at Singapore, 12th September 1945, this copy signed ('Louis Mountbatten, Admiral') by Mountbatten at the conclusion in black fountain pen ink and most likely dating from the 1970s. The document states, in part, that Field Marshal Count Terauchi 'does hereby surrender unconditionally to the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia (Admiral The Lord Louis Mountbatten) himself and all Japanese sea, ground, air and auxiliary forces under his command or control' and that Terauchi 'undertakes to ensure that all orders and instructions that may be issued from time to time by the Supreme Allied Commander…..are scrupulously and promptly obeyed by all Japanese sea, ground, air and auxiliary forces', further declaring that 'Any disobedience of, or delay or failure to comply with, orders or instructions issued by the Supreme Allied Commander….and any action which the Supreme Allied Commander…..may determine to be detrimental to the Allied Powers, will be dealt with as the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia may decide'. Rare in this form. VG